ESPN FC analysts Steve Nicol, Don Hutchison, and Dan Thomas have released their predictions for every match of the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds [1].
These predictions come as the tournament enters its most critical phase, where a single loss eliminates a team from contention. With an expanded field and a new format, the path to the final is more complex than in previous editions of the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico [2]. This iteration of the tournament features a total of 48 teams [3]. Due to this expansion, organizers added an extra knockout round to the schedule [3].
A total of 32 teams advance to the knockout stage [4]. This field consists of the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the top eight third-place teams [4]. The knockout stage is scheduled to be played over a period of three weeks [4].
During the broadcast, Nicol and Hutchison joined Thomas to debate which nations possess the tactical depth to survive the expanded bracket [1]. The analysts focused specifically on whether any team can stop France from winning the trophy [1].
"Steve Nicol and Don Hutchison join Dan Thomas on ESPN FC to predict every match of the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds and debate who will win the final," ESPN FC said [1].
“Can anyone stop France?”
The transition to a 48-team format fundamentally changes the tournament's endurance requirements. By adding an extra knockout round and increasing the number of advancing teams to 32, FIFA has created a longer path to the final that tests squad depth and recovery more than previous formats.
